Happy Thursday All, What makes you love a novel? Is it the writing? The characters? The atmosphere? The genre? Or all of the above? As a reader, it depends on a lot of things. Sometimes the writing is excellent and I'm in raptures. Other times the characters are amazing, even if the writing isn't the very best I've ever seen. And sometimes, I just get drawn into a story and I can't really say why. In terms of my writing, it depends on what type of inspiration strikes. With my standalone Fantasy Romance, All's Fair In Love & Lion , I was into brooding male leads, and fairy-tales. I took the two and came up with a lion shape shifter and an orphaned English teacher (Sasha loses her parents when she was 15, although in the novel she's much older than that). I wrote it with adult audiences in mind, even though the heat level is more Sweet Romance than hot. Writing first person present tense wasn't a plan of mine, either. I tried writing it third pers...

Happy Wednesday Everybody, Did everyone go check out author Katie McGarry's new YA Contemporary novel that was released yesterday? I got an e-book copy of it and I'm well into the story. I really like it so far. Razor is complex and interesting, as is Breanna. This feels a lot like some of her previous work, and I'm thrilled about that. Nowhere But Here was good, but Walk The Edge is definitely better (in my opinion). Okay, folks, raise your hand if you're a nerd/geek/d ork... Come on, don't be shy! Just admit that you're a big fan of DC's Justice League, or Marvel's Avengers (or both, as in my case). Tell me you love Chris Helmsworth as Thor, and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the movies makes you smile. Or maybe you're more into the comic books, or into something else entirely. Batman, maybe? I happen to be more of a fan of Super-Man, but that's just me. I do want to see Batman Vs. Super-Man . I...

Happy Tuesday Everybody, Did you all have a nice Easter? We did. Holy Saturday we got to see one of my sisters and her family. That was a lot of fun. We also went over to a friends' house to visit. On Easter we went to Mass, and my father-in-law came over in the afternoon. So not bad. I did find out a piece of sad news. Mother Angelica (the nun who started EWTN --Eternal Word Television Network--a Catholic TV station) passed on Easter Sunday. Mother Angelica was humble, straight forward, and humorous. She will be missed. Rest in peace, Mother Angelica! Now, for a piece of fun news... Author Katie McGarry has a brand-new release out today! I've received  Walk The Edge and I'm interested to see what Razor's story is like. This is the 2nd in her Thunder Road series, the first one was Nowhere But Here . It's been a lot of fun for me to watch Katie's career grow and flourish. I met Katie before Pushing The Limits was published. She had ente...

Happy Monday All, Happy Easter to all who celebrate Easter! Hope your Easter weekend was lovely, peaceful, and fun. The Averie Household keeps busy during Easter, Mass, family, etc. I've covered this topic before, but now I have another perspective on it...the question of "how do you do it?" People look at me with my Offspring--those demands, wife, home, writing, etc. The truth is--and everyone will be so disappointed--I don't. Some days I just do one thing. Some days, I run around feeling like if I could just clone myself everything would get done. Sometimes I'm lucky if I remember my name (it's "Mom" or "AAAHHH", right?) The fact is, this is my life. This is the life I've been given and chosen. I don't expect anyone to do it for me, and I don't expect people to know how I do it. I don't know how I do it. I just do whatever I do for each individual day. Some days it means Real Life Hero (my husband) takes the Offspr...

Happy Thursday One & All, I won't be posting on Friday because of it being Good Friday. I know I don't post most days, so that's a "whatever", but I am trying to do more with the blog. Honest! I'm working on trying to find more ways to write in spite of the fact that the Averie Household is as hectic as ever. We have conquered the Death Ray Sinus and Respiratory infections--hurrah! We've even managed to get Real Life Hero a brand new suit--(he looks so good in it!) and new dress shirts and ties. I got a new skirt and sparkly new shoes (I got them because I have this other skirt that they'd be perfect for and I have a couple of events coming up that I want to be extra dressed up for. I don't normally get this fancy, but these events are fancy things). My computer or the website is being weird about pictures, so unfortunately this week, I don't have pictures on here. I have been writing--a little at a time (like I said, a lot going on...

Happy Wednesday Everybody, My computer and/or blog website is acting up, so I don't have any pictures to go with this blog post. I apologize! Recently I finished a trilogy. The writing was incredibly well done. The plot had many twists and turns, which I imagine the author had to keep many notes to make sure she knew what was next. The characters were deep and well thought out. In fact, one of them, named Morpheus was incredibly complex. Keeping track of how he reacts to things and how he thinks and the fact he had such well-thought out schemes suggests to me perhaps this writer is a major plotter. I highly admire such foresight.  The writing, descriptions, action, and romantic tension were all well done.  If fairy-tales/Wonderland and/or YA novels are up your alley then perhaps you'd want to read it. Or even if they aren't your favorite you might still want to read this trilogy. Why? Because the writing is just that good. It's so well thought out and executed. I...

Happy Monday All, Death Ray Sinus Infection gave way to Death Ray respiratory infections in my Offspring unfortunately. Fevers, coughing, congestion, and antibiotics is our life at the moment. We'll be glad when the Death Ray Infections get out of our house. And illness please, please, please stay out! On the writing front, I'm working on two Botanical Gardens in Springdale, Arkansas completely new ideas and discerning what direction to take with an established story. For now, I'm not entirely sure what direction I'll take, but I expect I'll be clued into what to do some time. I've discovered that one-size fits all doesn't exist (at least, not every time something says "one size fits all" or "one size fits most"). My mom ordered me this gorgeous skirt. It said one-size fits all, but the reviews were pretty good, so I waited for it. It arrived over the weekend and it was as gorgeous as the picture. I put it on, and it was extreme...

Happy Friday All, Coming up with the nickname for my ailment and author Stacy Hoff's inspiring blog post , gave me the urge to write this post. So thanks, Stacy! The Death-Ray Sinus Infection hit my household. Well, me. It started last Friday with dry, sore throat. Okay, whatever, we ran the heater, I often feel that way with the heater on. Saturday I feel like crap--like pulled through the mud crap. Sunday I feel better. Monday I'm so-so. Tuesday fever hit me, and I went to the doctor. I got an antibiotic and started on it right away. Wednesday I felt slightly better. Thursday, fever went up again. Now it's Friday. I feel crappy. Yep, it's the Death-Ray Sinus Infection. My poor body feels like an 18-wheeler dragged it down through the mud, across a busy freeway, down the "Cliffs of Insanity" ( The Princess Bride reference) and through the swamp of eternal coughing and it's weak and tired. Husband, being the super-hero he is, is doing his best t...